Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some women, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give women a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men and women are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
HRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
As women age, their hormones begin to go through changes that affect their day-to-day lives. For women, hormone deficiency and imbalance usually occur during menopause and can cause chronic fatigue, hot flashes, and mood swings, among other issues. Hormone replacement therapy helps correct hormone imbalances in women, helping them feel more vibrant and virile as they age.
Often, HRT treatments give patients enhanced quality of life that they didn't think was possible - even in their 60's and beyond.
The benefits for women are numerous and are available today through Global Life Rejuvenation.
As women age, their bodies begin to go through significant changes that affect their quality of life. This change is called menopause and marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycle and reproduction ability. Though there is no specific age when this change occurs, the average age of menopause onset is 51 years old. However, according to doctors, menopause officially starts 12 months after a woman's final period. During the transition to menopause, women's estrogen and other hormones begin to deplete.
As that happens, many women experience severe symptoms. These symptoms include:
The symptoms of hormone deficiency can be concerning and scary for both women and their spouses. However, if you're getting older and notice some of these symptoms, there is reason to be hopeful. Hormone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine for women can correct imbalances that happen during menopause. These safe, effective treatments leave you feeling younger, healthier, and more vibrant.
The most common reason for menopause is the natural decline in a female's reproductive hormones. However, menopause can also result from the following situations:
Oophorectomy: This surgery, which removes a woman's ovaries, causes immediate menopause. Symptoms and signs of menopause in this situation can be severe, as the hormonal changes happen abruptly.
Chemotherapy: Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can induce menopause quickly, causing symptoms to appear shortly after or even during treatment.
Ovarian Insufficiency: Also called premature ovarian failure, this condition is essentially premature menopause. It happens when a woman's ovaries quit functioning before the age of 40 and can stem from genetic factors and disease. Only 1% of women suffer from premature menopause, but HRT can help protect the heart, brain, and bones.
For many women, menopause is a trying time that can be filled with many hormonal hurdles to jump through. A little knowledge can go a long way, whether you're going through menopause now or are approaching "that" age.
Here are some of the most common issues that women experience during menopause:
If you're a woman going through menopause and find that you have become increasingly depressed, you're not alone. It's estimated that 15% of women experience depression to some degree while going through menopause. What many women don't know is that depression can start during perimenopause, or the years leading up to menopause.
Depression can be hard to diagnose, especially during perimenopause and menopause. However, if you notice the following signs, it might be time to speak with a physician:
Remember, if you're experiencing depression, you're not weak or broken - you're going through a very regular emotional experience. The good news is that with proper treatment from your doctor, depression isn't a death sentence. And with HRT and anti-aging treatment for women, depression could be the catalyst you need to enjoy a new lease on life.
Hot flashes - they're one of the most well-known symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes are intense, sudden feelings of heat across a woman's upper body. Some last second, while others last minutes, making them incredibly inconvenient and uncomfortable for most women.
Symptoms of hot flashes include:
Typically, hot flashes are caused by a lack of estrogen. Low estrogen levels negatively affect a woman's hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls body temperature and appetite. Low estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to incorrectly assume the body is too hot, dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow. Luckily, most women don't have to settle for the uncomfortable feelings that hot flashes cause. HRT treatments for women often stabilize hormones, lessening the effects of hot flashes and menopause in general.
Mood swings are common occurrences for most people - quick shifts from happy to angry and back again, triggered by a specific event. And while many people experience mood swings, they are particularly common for women going through menopause. That's because, during menopause, the female's hormones are often imbalanced. Hormone imbalances and mood swings go hand-in-hand, resulting in frequent mood changes and even symptoms like insomnia.
The rate of production of estrogen, a hormone that fluctuates during menopause, largely determines the rate of production the hormone serotonin, which regulates mood, causing mood swings.
Luckily, HRT and anti-aging treatments in Whitfield, FL for women work wonders for mood swings by regulating hormone levels like estrogen. With normal hormone levels, women around the world are now learning that they don't have to settle for mood swings during menopause.
Staying fit and healthy is hard for anyone living in modern America. However, for women with hormone imbalances during perimenopause or menopause, weight gain is even more serious. Luckily, HRT treatments for women coupled with a physician-led diet can help keep weight in check. But which hormones need to be regulated?
Lowered sexual desire - three words most men and women hate to hear. Unfortunately, for many women in perimenopausal and menopausal states, it's just a reality of life. Thankfully, today, HRT and anti-aging treatments Whitfield, FL can help women maintain a normal, healthy sex drive. But what causes low libido in women, especially as they get older?
The hormones responsible for low libido in women are progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone.
Progesterone production decreases during perimenopause, causing low sex drive in women. Lower progesterone production can also cause chronic fatigue, weight gain, and other symptoms. On the other hand, lower estrogen levels during menopause lead to vaginal dryness and even vaginal atrophy or loss of muscle tension.
Lastly, testosterone plays a role in lowered libido. And while testosterone is often grouped as a male hormone, it contributes to important health and regulatory functionality in women. A woman's testosterone serves to heighten sexual responses and enhances orgasms. When the ovaries are unable to produce sufficient levels of testosterone, it often results in a lowered sex drive.
Often uncomfortable and even painful, vaginal dryness is a serious problem for sexually active women. However, like hair loss in males, vaginal dryness is very common - almost 50% of women suffer from it during menopause.
Getting older is just a part of life, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for the side effects. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women correct vaginal dryness by re-balancing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. When supplemented with diet and healthy living, your vagina's secretions are normalized, causing discomfort to recede.
Uterine fibroids - they're perhaps the least-known symptom of menopause and hormone imbalances in women. That's because these growths on the uterus are often symptom-free. Unfortunately, these growths can be cancerous, presenting a danger for women as they age.
Many women will have fibroids at some point. Because they're symptomless, they're usually found during routine doctor exams. Some women only get one or two, while others may have large clusters of fibroids. Because fibroids are usually caused by hormone imbalances, hysterectomies have been used as a solution, forcing women into early menopause.
Advances in HRT and anti-aging medicine for women give females a safer, non-surgical option without having to experience menopause early. At Global Life Rejuvenation, our expert physicians will implement a customized HRT program to stabilize your hormones and reduce the risk of cancerous fibroid growth.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS, and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Xenoestrogen is a hormone that is very similar to estrogen. Too much xenoestrogen is thought to stimulate endometrial tissue growth. HRT for women helps balance these hormones and, when used with a custom nutrition program, can provide relief for women across the U.S.
Hormone stability is imperative for a healthy sex drive and for a normal, stress-free life during menopause. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women balance the hormones that your body has altered due to perimenopause or menopause.
HRT for women is a revolutionary step in helping women live their best lives, even as they grow older. However, at Global Life Rejuvenation, we know that no two patients are the same. That's why we specialize in holistic treatments that utilize HRT, combined with healthy nutrition, supplements, and fitness plans that maximize hormone replacement treatments.
If you've been suffering through menopause, is HRT the answer? That's hard to say without an examination by a trusted physician, but one thing's for sure. When a woman balances her hormone levels, she has a much better shot at living a regular life with limited depression, weight gain, mood swings, and hot flashes.
Here are just a few additional benefits of HRT and anti-aging treatments for females:
Hormone imbalance causes a litany of issues. But with anti-aging treatments for women, females can better process calcium, keep their cholesterol levels safe, and maintain a healthy vagina. By replenishing the body's estrogen supply, HRT can relieve symptoms from menopause and protect against osteoporosis. But that's just the start.
Global Life Rejuvenation's patients report many more benefits of HRT and anti-aging medicine for women:
If you're ready to feel better, look better, and recapture the vitality of your youth, it's time to contact Global Life Rejuvenation. It all starts with an in-depth consultation, where we will determine if HRT and anti-aging treatments for women are right for you. After all, every patient's body and hormone levels are different. Since all our treatment options are personalized, we do not have a single threshold for treatment. Instead, we look at our patient's hormone levels and analyze them on a case-by-case basis.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we help women rediscover their youth with HRT treatment for women. We like to think of ourselves as an anti-aging concierge service, guiding and connecting our patients to the most qualified HRT physicians available. With customized HRT treatment plan for women, our patients experience fewer menopausal symptoms, less perimenopause & menopause depression, and often enjoy a more youth-like appearance.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies. Ipamorelin can boost a patient's overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life.
When there is an increased concentration of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, there are positive benefits to the body. Some benefits include:
Whether you are considering our HRT and anti-aging treatments for women in Whitfield, FL, we are here to help. The first step to reclaiming your life begins by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation. Our friendly, knowledgeable HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
866-793-9933USA TODAY SportsFlorida State freshman speedster Kermit Whitfield is one of the smallest players in college football."I'm all heart, though, and that makes up for lack of size," Whitfield said late Monday night at the Rose Bowl, where he had become a big part of a national championship football team.Heart and speed, too.They say speed kills, but it was Whitfield's sprinter speed that brought the Seminoles back to life in the fourth quarter Monday night.Whitfield is a 5-7, 178-pounde...
USA TODAY Sports
Florida State freshman speedster Kermit Whitfield is one of the smallest players in college football.
"I'm all heart, though, and that makes up for lack of size," Whitfield said late Monday night at the Rose Bowl, where he had become a big part of a national championship football team.
Heart and speed, too.
They say speed kills, but it was Whitfield's sprinter speed that brought the Seminoles back to life in the fourth quarter Monday night.
Whitfield is a 5-7, 178-pounder who has run 10.15 in the 100 meters and says his last timed 40-yard dash was a 4.37, and that speed might have saved a national championship for Florida State.
With the Seminoles down 24-20 after Auburn kicked a field goal with 4:42 left in the game, Whitfield took the ensuing kickoff on the goal line.
This time, his return partner, Karlos Williams, instead of holding him back like he had on deep kicks earlier in the game, looked upfield for a block.
He found a man to hit – he said it was Auburn's Jonathan Mincy.
Whitfield saw this, too, and cut off Williams' block toward the left sideline – and he was gone.
Really gone.
"I don't think anyone in college football can catch him," Williams said.
Whitfield agrees.
"I cut off the block and accelerated," Whitfield said. "I just saw green. Daylight. It opened up and I just ran as fast as I could. Nobody's going to catch me."
It was the first kickoff return touchdown since Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. returned a 93-yarder against Florida in 2007.
That was in a losing effort. Whitfield's sparked his team to victory.
He jumped into the stands after the game to celebrate, and said afterward that the big play on such a big stage means the world to him.
He couldn't wait to talk to friends and family back home in Orlando.
"I've probably got a thousand missed calls," he said.
Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher can envision lots more Whitfield highlights in the coming years.
"This guy is going to be a big-time player," Fisher said. "He has great hips, great acceleration. He's learning our offense and getting the touches, but in the open field he's as dynamic as anyone in America. He's as good as anybody I've ever been around and to do it at that stage . . . I think the sky's the limit for that guy in his whole career at Florida State."
If Levonte “Kermit” Whitfield looked fast as he sprinted 100 yards for a Florida State touchdown on a fourth-quarter kickoff return Monday, there’s a good reason.He’s really just that fast.According to the game clock, Whitfield, a freshman, covered the distance in 11 seconds — a little slower than what he ran for 100 meters to win the Florida state high school sprint championship last spring during track.Whitfield also won a state title at 200 meters.Now he’s a football c...
If Levonte “Kermit” Whitfield looked fast as he sprinted 100 yards for a Florida State touchdown on a fourth-quarter kickoff return Monday, there’s a good reason.
He’s really just that fast.
According to the game clock, Whitfield, a freshman, covered the distance in 11 seconds — a little slower than what he ran for 100 meters to win the Florida state high school sprint championship last spring during track.
Whitfield also won a state title at 200 meters.
Now he’s a football champion too, as his return helped the top-ranked Seminoles defeat Auburn, 34-31, in the Bowl Championship Series title game before 94,208 at the Rose Bowl.
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SUMMARY: Florida State 34, Auburn 31
Whitfield entered the game averaging 30.8 yards in 13 returns this season.
Against Auburn, he caught the ball at the goal line, broke straight up the field, headed to the left sideline at about the 20, and scored untouched.
The touchdown put Florida State up, 27-24 with 4 minutes 31 seconds to play.
Golden indeed
Executive Director Bill Hancock described the 16 years of the BCS as “a golden era for college football” at a Football Writers Assn. of America awards breakfast in Newport Beach.
“I’m proud of our track record and I’m proud of BCS,” Hancock said. “It matched No. 1 and 2, enhanced the regular reason, it improved the bowl system and it introduced new schools to top-tier bowl games.”
Air of contention
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Before the game, a plane flew around the Rose Bowl delivering a message from the All Players United campaign.
It read, “All Players United for Concussion Reform. Wake Up NCAA!”
The group wants the NCAA to take steps to better protect college players.
Sign of old times
The students of Caltech tried to get in the title game action by erecting a sign in the hills north and west of the Rose Bowl that read “PASADENA” in large white letters before the game — a la the famous Hollywood sign.
At halftime, those letters changed to a bright red CALTECH.
Former Dodger makes a catch
Melvin Ray, a former outfielder in the Dodgers farm system, was on the receiving end of Auburn’s longest pass play of the night — a 50-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter.
Ray had four catches for 58 yards for the season coming into the game.
Ray signed with the Dodgers as a 33rd-round draft choice out of a Tallahassee, Fla. high school in 2008, but he never rose above the rookie-league level.
Ray left baseball after the 2010 season with a career average of .184 with two home runs in 196 at-bats.
Secret weapon
Had Auburn been able to hold off Florida State, punter Steven Clark might have been an unsung hero.
Clark punted six times for a 43.2-yard average, but more importantly he pinned Florida State inside its own 10 three times.
Twice his punts landed inside the one-yard line.
Twitter: @MikeHiserman
Staff writer Chris Dufresne contributed to this report.
TAMPA — A man is facing DUI and child neglect charges after he crashed into a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office patrol car, deputies said.Donald L. Whitfield Jr., 29, was driving an Oldsmobile Alero south on Nebraska Avenue just before 1 a.m. when he crashed into a marked Dodge Charger car parked in the inside lane near Bearss Avenue, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy had parked the Charger to block traffic from an unrelated crash and had activated the car’s emergency lights a...
TAMPA — A man is facing DUI and child neglect charges after he crashed into a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office patrol car, deputies said.
Donald L. Whitfield Jr., 29, was driving an Oldsmobile Alero south on Nebraska Avenue just before 1 a.m. when he crashed into a marked Dodge Charger car parked in the inside lane near Bearss Avenue, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy had parked the Charger to block traffic from an unrelated crash and had activated the car’s emergency lights and a left arrow signal.
The impact caused the Oldsmobile’s airbag to deploy. A 1-year-old child riding in a car seat in the back of the car did not appear to be injured but was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital as a precaution, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies contacted the Florida Abuse Hotline.
Whitfield showed signs of impairment and a breath sample indicated his blood alcohol level was .171, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Under Florida law, a driver is presumed impaired at .08 percent.
Whitfield was booked into the Hillsborough County jail on charges of DUI accompanied by a person younger than 18; DUI resulting in injury or property damage (second conviction); child neglect; driving with a suspended license; and violating probation. He was being held without bail Tuesday.
Jail records list his home address in Land O’ Lakes.
A live, unarmed French missile, essentially like a firearm with a safety on, was found at the Lakeland Linder International Airport Friday afternoon and safely transported to a munition storage facility at MacDill Air Force Base, where it awaits proper disposal, airport and base officials said Monday.
The airport has received inert missiles in the past as part of shipments for their defense contractor tenant, Draken International, said Eugene Conrad, airport director. But the fact that the missile was found live led to an evacuation of the whole southeast side of the airport for about four hours.
“I’ve been here for 10 years and Draken has been here since 2011, but this is a first,” Conrad said.
Members of MacDill’s 6th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team were dispatched to secure the missile, and the 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron sent a truck with a team to help them load and transport it to base, said Lt. Brandon Hanner, spokesman for the 6th Air Refueling Wing.
The Lakeland Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives helped as well.
In an emailed statement Monday, Draken International gave this account of the incident: “In the process of evaluating shipments to Draken International’s Lakeland facility, our team discovered an object with questionable markings indicating it may be explosive. Adhering to the explosive safety rule of exposing the minimum amount of people for the minimum amount of time to a potential explosive hazard, we made the decision to evacuate the facility, inform our surrounding tenants, and contact the appropriate authorities as soon as possible.”
The Cincinnati Bengals are making no attempt to hide their agenda. After signing former Florida WR Kermit Whitfield, speed is definitely the theme.The Bengals made a move to strengthen their wide receiver corps. On Saturday, former Florida State WR Levonte “Kermit” Whitfield signed on to play with Cincinnati.Recently, Whit...
The Bengals made a move to strengthen their wide receiver corps. On Saturday, former Florida State WR Levonte “Kermit” Whitfield signed on to play with Cincinnati.
Recently, Whitfield had a stint with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted college free agent. As Cincinnati tries to upgrade every aspect of a dismal 6-9-1 campaign, this signing flows with the overall theme for the new season. Speed is the new direction for Cincinnati. With the additions of John Ross (Mr. 422) and Josh Malone, the Bengals are valiantly attempting to erase the “old and slow” moniker of 2016.
Whitfield’s measurables put him at 5’8” and 180 pounds. Looking again at the speed attribute, he clocked a 4.44 at the NFL Combine. As a kick returner, he stockpiled 2,386 yards.
A quick analysis, per NFL.com.
"Gadget player who can be activated with jet sweeps, reverses and wide receiver screens. Kicks it into high gear quickly and is dangerous after the catch. Has speed to split two deep safeties from slot. Surprising body control for small receiver and can win the occasional 50/50 down the field. Is short, but with compact lower body. Was used in intermediate routes. Has kick return experience."
If Whitfield’s size and overall description remind you of anyone, just think Andrew Hawkins. Both players are small in stature but pack a serious punch in the open field. Hawkins was beastly with his open-field moves.
This isn’t a move to replace any of the current Bengals special teams players. Whitfield can certainly be viewed as either insurance or a nice change of pace kick returner. Alex Erickson and Adam Jones have those duties locked down. But, there’s always room for another speedy weapon.
The Bengals will likely use Whitfield to spell their all-star lineup. Adding more speed and agility to an already nightmarish WR corp doesn’t bode well for opposing defenses. Maybe 50 years in the league has convinced Mike Brown and the Bengals to stock up on John Madden’s favorite commodity.
It’s true that low taxes and warm weather attracts many new citizens to Florida. A closer look will show that underpinning the economics and comfort of living are the fundamentals of what makes Florida Florida — our water and land resources. Florida is defined by its sandy beaches and estuaries; freshwater, lakes, springs and rivers; abundant fish and wildlife; and far more natural amenities. They exist because the state has been successful in conserving its most important assets. Florida Forever and its predecessors have been ac...
It’s true that low taxes and warm weather attracts many new citizens to Florida. A closer look will show that underpinning the economics and comfort of living are the fundamentals of what makes Florida Florida — our water and land resources. Florida is defined by its sandy beaches and estuaries; freshwater, lakes, springs and rivers; abundant fish and wildlife; and far more natural amenities. They exist because the state has been successful in conserving its most important assets. Florida Forever and its predecessors have been acclaimed as the best land conservation programs in the United States.
It’s also true that Florida Forever has been woefully underfunded for more than a decade. Something needs to be done about that.
Since the 1970s the state has recognized that regulations and persuasion couldn’t protect the values of undeveloped, natural land, and the only way certain to protect its natural values was through purchase. Land acquisition programs in the 1970s and ’80s permanently set aside thousands of acres in the Everglades region and throughout Florida. Following that lead, in 1990 the Legislature passed the Preservation 2000 Act, which enabled the purchase of $300 million of environmentally sensitive land each year for 10 years. More than 1.7 million acres were forever protected from the untethered development of the state.
Building on the success of Preservation 2000, in 1999, the state Legislature passed the Florida Forever Act to provide $300 million per year for environmental land acquisition for another 10 years.
The Florida Forever Act called for the acquisition of lands listed by the Florida Acquisition and Recreation Council, as well as the Rural and Family Lands, Florida Communities Trust and Florida Recreation Development Assistance programs. Acquisitions could be by outright purchase or purchase of development rights or easements. Under Florida Forever more than 869,000 acres were purchased with $3.2 billion. Together these two programs purchased and protected over 2.6 million acres.
The Florida Forever program received its allocated funding of $300 million, sometimes more, through 2008 and was then drastically reduced due to the economic down turn of that year. It has languished ever since. In 2009 it received $0; in 2010, $15 million; in 2011, $0; in 2012, $8.4 million; in 2013, $21.7 million; in 2014, $17.4 million. Underfunding of the program continues to this day.
With the main intention of restoring funding for Florida Forever to its historic levels, in 2012 a group of Florida conservation organizations began a referendum drive called “The Water and Land Conservation Initiative” to amend the state Constitution. In 2014 Amendment 1 passed with 75 percent voter approval. The amendment requires that one-third of the proceeds of the state’s real estate documentary stamp taxes go to purposes stated, with Florida Forever as top priority. Other conservation programs such as land management, Everglades restoration, springs protection and beach nourishment were also to be funded. It was projected that $20 billion would be raised during the forthcoming 20 years, approximately $1 billion per year on average.
Never mind what the Florida Constitution said, governors and Legislatures have ignored the will of the voters — the people — year after year. Even after the Constitution was amended in 2014, Florida Forever funding has year after year continued to be sporadic and never close to what was intended: $37.9 million in 2015; $105 million in 2016; $10 million in 2017; $96.8 million in 2018; $34.5 million in 2019 and $91.7 million in 2020. Where did the money go? Everglades restoration has been generously funded; and land management, springs protection, beach nourishment, and other projects have also received funding. Yet Florida Forever has gotten only a small fraction of what the Constitution intended. Florida Forever funding should be a minimum of $300 million per year — anything less is a slap in the face of Florida voters and our environment.
Projections are that the amendment will raise over $965 million in fiscal year 2021-22. The governor’s 2021-22 budget recommends $473 million for Everglades restoration including major engineering and construction works and a scant $50 million for Florida Forever. If you live in north, east, west or central Florida, you’re on the short end. Think about that. I helped Gov. Bob Graham establish the Everglades restoration program in 1983 and spent a large part of my career in its pursuit. Everglades restoration is very important and needs to be pursued with more thoughtfulness and less politics. The majority of the state should not be shortchanged in favor of one of its regions.
A 2016 study by the University of Florida GeoPlan Center in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and 1000 Friends of Florida projected that by 2070 the state’s population will surpass 33 million, 15 million more than in 2010, and every new resident will need a place to live. Over 11 million acres of land will be developed. As a result of loss of land, loss of aquifer recharge areas, and increased demands, water supplies are in jeopardy. Your children and grandchildren need to be paying attention.
In plain language, the Water and Land Conservation Amendment intended primarily to fund Florida Forever has been ignored and brazenly abused since its passage. The 4.2 million Floridians who voted for the amendment and those who want Florida to continue to be a beautiful and desirable place to live should be offended. The state’s leaders have thumbed their noses at you and by their actions have said — we don’t care how you voted or what you think.
If our land and water resources are important to you, speak up and tell the governor and legislators that you care, and have a long memory.
Estus Whitfield, who was the principal environmental adviser to six Florida governors, is a founding member of the Florida Conservation Coalition. He’s a Florida native.